Cigar lighter



Aus. 10, 1943. J. H. COHEN 2,326,333

CIGAR LIGHTER Filed .nine 21, 1939 my N R Jose ACohen We@ 1% iff/47? ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. l10, 1943 CIGAR LIGHTER Joseph H. Cohen, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor to Automatic Devices Corporation, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Bridgeport,

Application June 21, 1939, Serial No. 289,270 L 10 Claims. ((311.219-32) This invention relates to cigar lighters, and, more particularly, to a holder for removably supporting an igniting unit carrying a heating element, and is an improvement over the invention disclosed and claimed in my prior application, Serial No. 93,770, filed August' 1, 1936, now Patent No. 2,210,025, issued August 6, 1940.

While the invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to automatically controlled cigar lighters of the type wherein the igniting unit is completely removed from the holding device for use, the-present invention has special-utility and advantage when used in such a device.

It has been heretofore proposed to employ with such automatically controlled cigar lighters a means for permanently breaking the circuit to the heating element if the same should become Y overheated due to failure of the usual circuitbreaking means lto operate or if a short circuit should occur in the igniting unit circuit. 'Ihese prior proposed means have usually consisted of a fusible element generally made a part of the heating element circuit fusible upon a sudden surge of current or have been placed in heat-recircuit if the heating element should attain someV dangerous heat or if a short circuit should occur and which device when destroyed can be easily replaced without necessitating the partial disassembly of either the igniting unit or the holding device. f

The device, according to the present invention,

is made attachable to the holding device and forms a part of the circuit of the heating element, and as well, is in close heat-exchanging relation with the heating element. The device includes a thermoplastic element so made a part of the device that should the heating element attain a dangerous heat 0r should a short circuit occur which might cause an overload of the heating'ele-A ment, the element allows the circuit to be permanently opened.

I'he element normally. holds a pair of contacts in closed-circuit position but which Ywhen softened or destroyed is no longer operative to hold the contacts in such position, and the circuit is permanently opened. The device, after the element has been destroyed, may be very yquickly and easily replaced by a similar device without removingeither the holding device from its support or removing the igniting unit from the holding device. i

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.4

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View of the device of the :present invention showing the igniting unit in the closed-circuit position and the fusible element in its normal position.

Fig. 2 is a sectional-view partly in elevation showing the igniting unit in the circuit-closing position, but showing the condition of the fuse and the position of the circuit-breaking members after the vfuse has become softened. Y

Fig. 3 is an exploded view showing the various elements of the fuse assembly.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the fuse assembly showing a different means of connecting the current-supply wire to the same.

Fig. 5'is a' view similar to Fig. 4, but showing a still modied means of attaching the currentsupply Wire tothe same. Y

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the wafer-car- Y rying cartridge.

As shown in the drawing, the present invention is appliedto an automatic lighter of thev type in which the igniting unit iscompletely removed from the holding device for use.

In the particular lighter illustrated, the holdi ing device comprises a well or socket I0 adapted to be 'mounted in an aperture in `an instrument board II of an automobile or the like with a ange I2 vof the socket in engagement with the front face of the instrument board. The well is secured in place by a tubular shell I3 having a nipple I Il` threaded over a boss I5 carried by a transverse wall I6 of the socket I0. v

Theigniting unit may be a generally cylindrical member having a sliding t vwithinfthe cylindrical shell l0. In the formof the invention asihe'rein shown, the igniting unit comprises a body portion made up of a dielectric sleeve Il threaded into a knob member I8 of some suitable insulatingmaterial. The inner end of the igniting unit is provided with a heating element I9 comprisinga spiral coil ofresistance wire 20 mounted in a cup 2I to which the outer end Vof the wire is secured, the inner end of the wire being secured to a post 22. l Y

The heating element, in the form shown, is reholder, the spring is compressed. j

Y insulating Washers and transverseI wall; of; the

2f n t 2,326, movably mounted on the igniting unit, the end of the latter being provided with threads 23 to re. ceive a screw threaded cap 2li secured to/thevcup VI by peening over a head 25 of the post 22. The

post carries between the cup 2 iV and the threaded 5A cap 24 an insulating washer 25.

The igniting unit is adapted vtobeheld 4in shallow openfcircuit position on the holding device by means of a spring 2l carried by theigniting unit and engaging a ange 28 formed at l0A the inner end of a sleeve 29. The sleeve 29 at the forward end has a flange 3i! engaging the flange` i 2 of the holding device, so that when the igniti-A ing unit is pushed into a deep position in, the

The spring 27, as shown, is'disposedwithinan: l

. annular groove formed in the sleeve il and is placed in iront of the handle Et'wth. oneend., 1

Y andithe capzfisconnected .thereto to enable the unit to be moved into a deep circuit-closingpesi--V tion.

A plurality or ughtaran'smitting apertures o2-V Y are formed in thegtransverse. wall of the cup 2l,

cap Eil, so thatrwhen the-.heatingelement reaches incandesc ence,` lightfwill be .transmitted through the apertures-the hereof the sleeve`V l 'i to; the hol'-,

low handle. ifwhichyisprovded with a lens 33 of some. .suitable materialwhich will' beA caused to glow and indicate to the user that the heating element has reachedincandescence. f ,A To complete a ,circuit to the heating element, whenthe igniting yunit ismovedto a, deep. position in the holding ,dei/ice; a cooperating contact. meansistoarriedby the; reanorftransverse Wall -of the.holdingdevice;k M In the broader aspeotsof `thisinvention;y any` sjutablefform of mounting; means for tneeonracts of lthe holdinggdevice may be; employed.v4 In the form of the invention illustrated; howevennthe; contacts, of the holding device aregsuppOr-tedby an insulating'blcck 34. This'insulatingg-blocklis 1 providedlwith a Central recess to house :afdisk- ISEl having a; plurality. cig radiallyv extending contact fingers 3%. g 'Ih'e/blocl;r EdfalsoriS-provided with aj plurality ci f space dg apertures; 1 311 radiating ,romg

` the central recess to receiveaj second. disk liprovided with a plurality of;radiallyextendiriggcon-r tactiingers 39. A studvr lll) holds all vthejmemf bers together,k the stud havingfa head lll overlyingfthe disk 35 carrying thecontact lingers .35i and underlying the disk' 3,3; carryinggthecontact j fingers. .f t The head-cf the stud;l1as aredufled portion extending through an aperturein thegdiskfandis spun' or riveted over'topermanently. uniteV the Contactk ngers thereto.. As thus assembled,v the studv and the pluralityof disks carrying,theV con- 65 tact e iingers .are locked Sto and j. onthe insulating member 355.2 V'llhestud di?, withaninsulating- Y vsleeve, 42' anda' avvvasher A3, extendsgrearwardlyf through an aperturel formed in the-rearz'wall ofiv the holdingA device and,projects,beyondjahe?same.` 70v L A reinforcing memberiuris-disposed between thesinsulating body 35i andthe-rearwall .of thefholdeiogi device. The zi-Studi, 4.0; isyorovidedi Withf ai threaded end portion receivingpagnut 25;and1ai Washer 45 -tQinsulate the nutfromra: second 75` element.has boem brought-- to; orooeterroiined reinforcing member lil'. When the nut 45 is tightened, the Contact *assembly is securely clamped to the rear or transverse wall of the holding device as a unit.r I y The stud ill is adapted to be connected to a source of current such as the usual storage batteryeso that current may be conducted to the t heating element Ywhen the igniting unit is moved against the action of the spring 2'!y to a position wherein the contact ngers 39 engage the cup 2 I. .The coil Eil of the heating element, as it is con` nected. to the stud 22 which is carried by the cap g .fi, will complete the circuit to ground through the holding device lil by means of a finger lanced from the vwall of the holding device Hi andin'engagement with a flange 49 of the Cap 2E.

.Theav fingers i3d are resilient and are preferably constructedv `of some bimetallic material.

' As shown; they have the endsj thereof oilset so as to extend;substantially norniaLto-.the disk 335: The= ends of: thev fingersfare-carnrned apart when; the. cupv contacts the-saine@ and: are; also provided; preerablmlwithdepressed portionsfi: Y adanted to iengaee and# receive therim of: the' ,1

cupl When-3 the vignitngfuniti` is ymoved tofits deep, operative.position` 'I'he 'resiliency ol the: fine gerer, 3.9 f isf Such 1 that they.V kgririfancl retain; the ignition unit: against; returnimovemeiit under the;influencew of the Spring. limtilithe heating terrinerapireV fors use.; Whileaathe; heating: element is loeineferiergizeei;A theheatrtherefroniseonduoted -tolthe lfingers Sel' through; the; our; Y2i and, due-to their Construction; ofusome-:bimetailio material, will ex; So that.,theyareieasefihe cup.- WhenA thef'fingers) releasev their;A engageoment. .with the rimofytheeouo El. .the-1 sp. ha,

ment with the-.fingersiiandheld manuallygin' that; position;` untilgtheg.heatingJ e l err y1ent-.hasY

reaohedrits. desiredinoanoesoenoe, The userfwilli b'e-.apprisedofthe; incandescence of the heating;

elementi fonvv as; previouslyfexplfined; i light irom 2 the. incandescent eleliie-Iit` will bei transmitted through the apertures 32, boref'offth'e; sleeve; ifif toe-fthe,lensz.,ofgthemandle I8.;

There f is very lioleeiireimond;Lof-f ma talliof rin-gers 2397; ifthe f device isV` properly used;

farting gtozex. and allowing the :inciting-uniti to. be returned by thesprvng; tothe; shallow@ circllrtopeilinapositon; nevertheless, one: to abuse..

suchga-svlexcessive; improperuseornatural-atigue of the parts after having been used over aflongf.

period-v ciV time, Y there is, avpossibilityofg sucri a failurefjiff Vsuchqaf; failure; should `occur;v it will bef.- understood;` that the heating 'elementcan.. reaclrY adangerous heatf wliiich can,'causer1the destruoticnof'thel entiredevvicefv- Vrlilo prevent j the, destruction of the; Ventire? de-V vice, should-1thegbirnetalliciingersg 3?) fail g tofgre.` spondL properlyfa dflrelease the."ignitiirT unit;y thefpieoenhinventloo provides; ai. manentlyopening-thefoirouittoit vg ment after the heating elementhasgreach 1 tempered/ure higher; ,'thanthe one; nec essary,v .biit yetylowerath dangerous. heat r -whnhtv mightg .Cause detlfiioiioniofifthez device;l f

the?

ber kwhich will soften at some critical predetermined temperature, less than a.V dangerous one, to allow a spring associated with one of the contacts to move that contact out of engagement with the other to the end that the circuit to the heating element will be opened.

The means for preventing the heating element from reaching a dangerous heat comprises a removableassembly which is connected into the circuit leading into the heating element. The stud 48, yby means of which the contact assembly is securely clamped to the rear wall of the kholding device, is of a length to project rearwardly a distance suilicient to take a threaded sleeve 5J. The sleeve 50 terminates in a reduced portion which carries a disk 5| `of some suitable insulating material. The disk 5| is held against separation from the sleeve as the end of the latter is -peened or riveted over to form a retaining head 52 which clamps the disk against the shoulder 53 of the sleeve 58. A coil spring 54 seating on the disk urges a metallic disk 55 rearwardly and away from engagement with the head 52 of the sleeve 58. The disk 55 is provided on the rear face thereof with a cup-like member56 secured to the rear face in any suitable manner, but herein shown as I 58 projecting centrally of the same but termihating just short of the center thereof.

To hold the spring disk and cartridge in the position desired, a sleeve 59 of insulating material is slipped over the same until the one end thereof engagesthe disk 5|. A cylindrical housing Eflhaving a transverse wall formed at one end thereof by'an insulatingdisk 6| is slipped over rthe sleeve v,59 and securely" clamped to the disk 5| by a plurality of fingers G2 which are bent over to engage the outer face of the disk 5| which forms-a closing transverse wall for the housing-'65. The insulating disk 6| carries a centrally located stud -63 carrying at the inner end a spider 84 provided with a plurality of resil- 'lent lingers 65-which engage the rear face of the cartridge 57a. The spider 65 is secured to the inner face of the disk 6| by heading over the end of the 53. The stud E3 is provided with an integral stop collar 66 which engages the outer face-oi the disk 5| and cooperates with the head ofr the stud to holdthe disk 6| and spider E4 against relative movement. The outer end of the stud 63 is threaded to take a nut 8l to clamp a contact clip 68 against the collar 88. A conductor Wire Sil, connected to the usual storage battery of the vehicle, is secured to the clip.

It will be seen that when the various elements enclosed by the housing 63 are in their assembled 2. The resiliency of the fingers 65 is such that they oiiset any tendency of the coil spring 54 to urge the disk 55 away from the head 52 of the sleeve 50 against which the disk 55 abuts.

It will be seen that the current Will be conducted to the heating element when the igniting unitis moved inwardly against the action of the spring 2l to a position where the contact iingers 39 engage the cup 2| as a circuit will be established from the conductor 69, stud 63, spider 54, cartridge 51a, cup member 56, disk 55, sleevev 5i), stud 40, disk 38, fingers 39, cup 2| to the coil 2D which, as previously explained, is grounded throughcap 24 to the iinger 48 lanced from the Wall of the holding device |0.

The heat of the energized heating element, as previously explained, will cause the bimetallic iingers 39 to flex or move away from the cup 2|, whereupon the igniting unit is moved by the spring 21 to the shallow position breaking the circuit through the heating element. If, however, ior some reason the iingers 39 fail to respond properly and the circuit through the heating element is maintained for a period longer than is necessary to bring the heating element to the desired temperature, the likelihood of a dangerous condition arising has been completely obviated by the present invention. Should the fingers 39 iail to function and retain the igniting unit in the energizing position, after the heating element has reached its desired heat, the stud 4i) will transmit heat to the sleeve 5l), disk 55 and cup-shaped member 56 which is, as has been explained, in contact with the cartridge 51a housing the fusible wafer 51. If suiiicient heat is conducted to the wafer and the same softens, the spring 54 will urge the disk 55 and cup-like member 56 rearwardly,V and, as the fingers 58 of the cartridge 51a are free to bend back into the body of the Wafer, the same, upon softening of the Wafer, as shown in Fitr 7 will do so and the disk 55 under the action of the spring 54 will be moved out of engagement with the` headed over portion of the sleeve 5t. 'I'he separation of the disk 55 from the sleeve 50 will break the circuit to the igniting unit and prevent the heating element from reaching any dangerous degree of temperature.

The waier of thermoplastic material may be made up from some suitable low melting point metal, but, preferably, it is made of some nonconducting material such as a high melting point wax. If a metal was used to form the wafer, there is a possibility that the same, when it has softened or melted, will close the circuit by bridging other portions of the same.

YThe cartridge 57a, as it is connected in series with the heating element, is of a size to safely Y carry the current required by the coil 23 during its normal use, but should the current, passing through the circuit, be materially increased as from a short circuit in the coils of the heating element or for other reasons, the cartridge will become heated causing the wafer to soften a1- lowing the cup member under the action of the spring 54 to pierce the wafer, and any danger to the device will be obviated, as previously explained.V

It will be understood that the melting point of the material used to form the wafer is such that the same will melt before the heating element reaches a dangerous degree of temperature. The fuse assembly may be very quickly replaced if the same should be destroyed by merely removing the nut 61 from the stud B3 and unscrew- 8. A holder having a transverse wall formed at one end thereof for supporting a removable igniting unit carrying a heating element having a contact surface; a thermoresponsive contact disposed on said transverse wall and engageable y with the Contact of said unit to close a circuit V said thermoplastic switch means for securing the thermoresponsive contact and thermoplastic switch means to opposite sides of said transverse wall, the thermoresponsive contact operative upon the heating element reaching a predetermined useful temperature to move out of engagement with the contact carried by the igniting unit to automatically open the circuit, the thermoplastic switch means operative upon the heating element attaining a temperature higher than the said predetermined one for permanently opening said circuit. Y

9. A holder supporting a removable igniting unit carrying a heating element; a contact disposed within said holder adapted to be engaged by a contact carried by the igniting unit for closing a normally open energizing circuit for the heating element when the igniting unit is moved to closed-circuit position on Said holder; means for securing said contact to a transverse wall of the holder including a current-conducting threaded metal stud extending through said wall; and manually replaceable means for removably connecting said stud to a source of current including a metal sleeve having a thread engaging said extending part of the stud, a housing carried by said sleeve, switch means carried within said housing, said switch means including the sleeve, a movable contact connected to an electrical source, resilient means carried Within the housing for urging said movable contact away from said sleeve, and thermoplastic means carried by said housing for normally holding said movable contact in engagement with said sleeve against the urging of said resilient means, the thermoplastic means adapted to become plastic upon the heating element attaining a. degree of heat higher than one predetermined and inoperative to hold said movable contact in engagement with said sleeve against the urging of said resilient means for permanently opening the circuit.

l0. A holding device for a removable igniting unit carrying aV heating element; a contact carried by the holding device for cooperation with a contact on the igniting unit, the holding device contact being disposed on a transverse closing wall and insulated from the holding device; an elongate heat-conducting current carrying stud securing said last-named contact to the transverse wall, said stud being insulatedly carried by said end Wall and projecting through the same; a contact carried by the projecting end of said stud; a movable contact; resilient means urging said movable contact to a position out of engagement with the contact carried by the projecting end of the stud; and thermoplastic means holding said movable contact in good electrical engagement with the stud contact, said thermoplastic means adapted to become plastic upon the heating element attaining a degree of heat higher than one predetermined and inoperative to hold said movable contact in engagement with said stud contact.

JOSEPH H. COHEN. 

